MD Raus Sharif was sworn in yesterday night as Chief Justice for three years, with immediate effect.

Bernama reported that Raus received his instrument of appointment from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V at the Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur.


Prime Minister Najib Razak, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said, Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, Chief Judge of Malaya Ahmad Maarop and Chief Registrar of the Federal Court Latifah Mohd Tahar were present at the ceremony.

Raus was appointed on April 1 as Malaysia’s 14th chief justice, taking over from Arifin Zakaria, who retired upon attaining the age limit of 66 years and six months on March 31. 

Raus’ tenure as Court of Appeal president was earlier extended for six months from February 4 till August 3.

On July 7, the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement said Raus would serve as chief justice for three years from August 3; on the same day, Raus was appointed as an additional judge for the Federal Court for the equal number of years.

The Malaysian Bar is opposed to the term extension of Raus, who is past the retirement age limit of 66 years and six months. 

At the Malaysian Bar EGM on Thursday, the members voted to impose a social boycott on Raus and Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudun, whose age also exceeds the limit for a Federal Court Judge, should they accept their term extensions.

The Bar will also challenge the term extensions in court, with former Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan warning that the two judges could stay “forever” if the appointments were not challenged with “absolute clarity”. – August 5, 2017.